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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1906)
'4 ' THE PILLAR of LIGHT CHTINUED. "Hero's to the reconciliation or Brand nnd Ills wife," ho said, with a lighter tone and more cheerful mnnno.' than he would have deemed .possible Uto minutes earlier. Pyne followed his example. "Say, uncle," ho cried, "hero's a rneer item! When I first met Con stance I spoke of Mrs. pmsittnrt, am' 1 called her my prospective step-aunt'" "A. very silly name too." "Constance seemed to think that, or ite feminine equivalent. She corrected me, 'You moan your fiancee's aunt,' she said." "Oh, did she?" "Yes, and here'a to her bolus my fiancee's mother." With the morning came doubt. A maid who was given" charge of the two children told Pyne that Mrs. Vanslt tart had boon greatly upsot the pre vious evening. The girl was sure that lie lady had passed nearly an hour In tears kneeling by the side of the bed. Then, having regained control of her self to some extent, she rang for the maid and asked at what time the first train loft for Loudon next day. She ordered her breakfast at an hour which seemed to Indicate her intention to do part by that train, said that she would leave Instructions with Mr. Pyne con corning the children, and gave the maid two letters which she had written. Tbe.se were to be delivered at 0 o'clock. TSTiat was to bo done with the letters? As they were addressed to Pyne and his uncle respectively, ho soon settled that point. His letter read: Dear Mr. Pyne I am leaving for Lon don quite early, so I will not see you again In Penzance. I have supplied the little girls with all the garments thoy will need during the next few days. If, on In quiry, you ascertain that they have no relatives anxious, not merely willing, to tako charge of them, I shall bo most pleased to assume that responsibility. In that event, kindly write me, care of my tankers. Yours very sincerely, E..VANSITTART. The communication to life uncle was equally brief. Mr. Traill read It to Mm. It ran: Dear Mr. Traill I cannot marry you. Please forgive me. I did not realize when you honored mo with" your proposal that Jin Insuperable obstacle existed. That Is nil a lame explanation, but complcto so far as It goes. A woman who has wrecked her life Hnds It hard to choose her words. Your sincere friend, E. VAN81TTART. They discussed these curt notes dur ing breakfast. "I do not like their tone," said Mr. Traill gravely. "They Impress mo as the hurried resolutions of a woman driven to extremities. Wore It not for her request about the children I should think what you thought last night, Cliarlie, when that policeman turned wp." "I must have telephoned my Ideas to jou mighty quick," was the retort. "My dear boy, even at this moment we don't know what she intended to do. Vuy did she go out? What Is the nature of her sudden Illness? How comes it that she Is at Brand's house?" "I may be mistaken, but I think wo will bo given answers to all your ques tions iu due time. Nothing really serl 011s can be amiss or we should have board of It from Brand himself. Now, will you rdmnin on guard hero while I go out with Elsie and Mamie? The ono tiling that matters iu their little lives this morning Is that I shall hurry wp nnd go doll hunting with thorn." "I will hold the fort until you return. You will not be long?" "Perhaps half an hour. While I am out I will make some inquiries as to the condition of our other friends of tiio Chluook." "By the way, many of them must bo destitute. It is my desire, Cliarlie, to ! pay tiio expenses of any such to their destination and equip them properly for the Journey." "You are a first rater, uncle, but it'll make your arm tired if you O. K. the bill all the time. Now, hero's a fair offer. Lot me go halves." "Be off, you rascal! You aro keeplug two Ia'dlos waiting." With seeming anxiety to atone for the excesses of the week, the weather that morning Justified the claim of Cornwall to bo tho summer land of I England. Tho sun shone from a blue , sny tiecueu with wuue ciouus. tuo waters, of Mount's bay sparkled and danced in mlnlaturo wnvolets. Tho nlr was so mild, tho temperature so equa ble, that IJ; was hard to credit sea and wind with tho havoc of tho preceding days. The Gulf Rock disaster did not stand Jilono In tho records of tho hurricane, Even the day's papers contained be lated accounts of casualties on tho oDaets of Normandy, Holland and far- V i Louis Tracy, AUmt at "Tke Wing of tka Copyright, IBM, by Edward J. Clode off Denmark. Hut nowhere else ban tliero boon such loss of life, while re newed Interest was evoked by the finnl relief of all the survivors. Pyne's appearance outside the sit ting room was hailed with a yell. Not withstanding her own perplexities Mrs. Vanslttart iiad taken good caro that the children were well provided for. They were beautifully dressed, ami the smiling maid who freed them from control when tho door opened said that they might go out without Jackets, the day was so fine. lie descended the stairs with a cigar In his mouth and a delighted young ster clinging to each hand. In the hall he encountered a dozen Journalists waiting to devour him. A dcli'jhtcd younastcr clinging to each hand. They had failed to penetrate tho stra tegic screen Interposed by tho bead waiter. Now the enemy was unmask ed and they advanced to tho attack. Pyne was ready for them. Ho bad already outlined ids defense. "Will one of you gentlemen, repre senting all, kindly glvo mo a word In private?" he asked. This was readily agreed to. "Now, this is the deal I will make," ho said when the two -were Isolated. "I will meet you all hero in an hour's time. I will bo Interviewed, sketched, snapshotted, give you locks of my hair, my autograph, my views on the far cast, the next presidential election and the fiscal question If you bind yourself to one thing." "And Unit Is?" "Among tlits passengers saved from tho Chinook is a Mrs. Vanslttart- She Is very 111 and Is being cared for by Mr. Brand and bis daughters. Make no reference to her in any way what ever beyond including her name in the published lists. Promise that, and I'll talk a page." "I am sure I can agreo without con sulting my colleagues," said the sur prised reporter. "Come along, kids," said Pyne. "I nm delivered bound to the torture." , Ho passed out Into tho Btrcot, when Elsie's sharp eyes, searching for a shop, suddenly caught sight of Enid hurrying toward tho hotel. The child ran to meet her, and Enid, Hushed with excitement, began to ox plnln that Mrs. Vanslttart was In bed suffering from collapse nnd In a fever ish state. The doctor's verdict was that she was In some danger, but would recover If carefully tended and kept In absolute quiet. "Is Constance with Iter?" asked Pyne. "Yes." "And whero is Mr. Brand?" 1 "He will be bore soon. Ho asked mo to call and tell you and Mr. Traill what had happened." Enid's speech was not prone to trip. Pyne's eyes gleamed Into hers. "Mr. Brand asked you to see my un cle?" he said cautiously. "Yes," sho faltered. "Did ho say anything elso?" "Yes cousin." "Let me tako you right In. I guess It would mako a sensation If I hero, Mamie, Just hug Miss Enid good and hard for me, will you?" While the children watted In Uie hall ho accompanied the girl up the Btalra and threw open tho door of tho sitting room. "Hero Is somebody you want to see, uncle," he cried and rojolned tho llttlo onos. "noo-roosh!" bo yelped. "Now lot's buy a toy store." Enid und her father faced each other for somo seconds In silent bewilder ment. Then Mr. Trnlll rose nnd camo near to her. She did not know what to do or say. This tall, stately man was ono who should be doarer to her than v 1 any one ele In the world. She was Ins daughter, yrt they were strangers one to the other. "I I" How could she utter eon ventlonal words Im such a moment? Her lips quivered, and tears trenf l'd In her eyes. Then h kn Th" hep around her while " '. is fidciied wIMi a i'ttlo "old brooch V-irlu n fo r leafed rhamrorlc In oncril Is. He loo': m1 at her with a profound reverence and eaui'ht her by the shoulders. "My dear." he murmured, "you are cry like your mother." "I am glad." she said and kissed lilni. I CHAPTEU XIX. .""""I WEEK passed. In the fickle j A memory of the outer world tho f story of the Gulf Hook Ihht- house was bocomim: mellow ltli acte. Men now talked of war In Africa, of the yellow peril, of some 'mocarat squabble In a West End club But its vitality lingered In Penzance There were side Issues which Pyne's device had kept from tho public ken, but which the town's lolls pondered Lady Margaret Stanhope, obeying her kou' behests, tantalized her friends by tiiuillnu: serenely and telling them mull ing when they pestered her with ques tionsthat Is to say, she spoke not one word about the lady who was be ing nursed back to health In the light house keeper's cottage, but filled their souls with bitterness when she hinted at marvels concerning Constance and Enid. In such a small place, where every man's affairs are canvassed by his neighbors, It was Impossible to pre vent an atmosphere of mystery from clinging to Mrs. Vanslttart. A'uln, the uosslns were greatly concerned about Enid. For a young woman "In her position" to be engaged to an olll cor In the royal navy and admitted to tho sacred ranks of the aristocracy w'&a a wonderful thing In Itself. Hut that sho should bo on open terms of the greatest intimacy not alone with the elderly Mr. Traill, but with his good looking nephew, even calling the latter Charlie and treating him as a near relative, was an amazing circum stance only surpassed by the compla cency with which Lady Margaret and her son regarded it. The actors In this comedy seemed to bo sublimely Indifferent to public opin ion. That was tho worst of it. Enid wns escorted about tho town by each and all of the men at all hours. Now she was at the hospital cheering Bates and Jackson or tho injured people from the wreck, now arranging for the de parture of some of tho poorer sur vivors when they wore nble to travel, now flitting over to Mnrazlou to see .Mm Sponce, nnd onco actually visiting Mr. Jones, the innkeeper. At last n part of tho secret eked out Enid went with her father to ask how Mr. Emmett, tho sick chief officer, wns getting on. Thoy found him smoking in tho front garden of tho liouso in which Brand had lodged him. He started when he saw them np proaching, and his weather beaten face wore tho puzzled look with which lie regarded Enid ono night on tho light house stairs. Traill ''noticed tho sailor's covert glances at Enid, so ho said: "By. the way, Mr. Emmett, you were on the Britannic when my wife and I, her sister and two children camo to England before tho Esmeralda' was lost?" "Yes, sir." Ho paused. During many an Atlantic crossing ho nnd Mr. Traill had talked of that last Joyous journey when he, a boy who had Just joined tho servlco, sat at their table, as was tho custom of Junior of ficers In those years, Mr. Traill smiled. Ho kiiew what was In the other man's mind. "Do you see a likeness In this young lady to any ono you bavo ever known?" he asked. "Well, sir, I liopo It will not hurt your feelings, and it's a good many years ago now, but I could havo sworn well, I must out with it. Sho is tho living imago of your wife." "Indeed that cannot hurt my feel ings, as she Is her daughter." "Her daughter! Your daughter!" gasped Emmett. A small serving maid with tho ears of a rabbit was listening spellbound at the open window. Hero Indeed was a choice tidbit for tho milkman and tho postman and tho butcher's and gro cer's boys. From this lower current tho stream of talk flowed upward until It renched tho august drawing room of Mrs. Taylor-Smith. Sho drove hi frantic haste to Lady Margaret's villa and fired questions broadside. "Oil, yes," said Jack's mother suavo ly. "It Is quite true. Of course I have known it from tho first According to present arrangements, tho marriago will tako place in tho spring. Enid's marriago settlement will' bo nearly a quarter of a million." Llko most women, sho loved that word. A million, even In fractions, Is so glib, yet bo unattainable. Tho only person who wns slightly dissatisfied with the progress of events was Pyne. Constance nover appeared. Sho shared with Mrs. Sheppard tho care of her mother. Enid, blltho nnd guileless In tho public eye, did tho housekeeping and represented tho household. Brand, too, save for a couplo of vis Its to tho hotel, remained 'invisible He did not mention Mrs. Vanslttart's name. He was pale ajid worn, a man Fall and ttjinter I UNDERWEAR Infants' all-wool Vests, button down front, all sizes 2 for 75c Infants' all-wool Rubens Vests, No. 1 Rising 5c per size Children's; .separate Cotton Garments with llece back, size 16 at 2 i-2c rise per size Children's Cotton Garments, extra heavv fleece, size 18 at Rise 4c on each size Union Suits in Cotton at 25c, 50c, 60c and 75c Union Suits in Wool at . . $1 00 Ladies' separate Garments at 25c, 50c Ladies' separate Garments, extra large sizes, at 50c Ladies' Union Suits at 75c, $1.00, $1.25 YARNS! ixa Our stock of Tarns was never so complete in colors and qual ity. Prices the lowest. INFANTS' WOOL HOSE at 15c and 25c CHILDREN'S WOOL HOSE at... 15c, 25c, 30c LADIES' WOOL HOSE at 25c, 35c, 40c F. NEWHOUSE, LDry Goods, Laces at war with himself. Tho young Phlla delphliin for Pyne's family homo was in tho Quaker City, though his estate lay principally In Now York was not pleased by the Blight signs perceptlblo behind tho screen of Hraud's reserve "Constance takes after her father," he told himself. "There may bo trou blo about her mother. In tho scurry I may get left I must think this out" At last camo a day of warm sun shine when Enid nuuouuced that tho invalid by tho doctor's orders was car ried dowustalrs. "Has Mr. Brand seen her yet?" asked Pyne. "No," replied Enid, with a llttlo cloud on her fair face. "Ho nover men tions her. And how wo Nvish ho would. Ho Is suffering, but keeps silent, und neither Constance nor I can make any suggestion." "But what will bo the outcome?" "How can I tell? That night after ,wo left tho hotel he told us tho story of his married life. It did not seem to, bo utterly impossible to straighten matters, but wo knew nothing of her career during so many years. Was sho married again? I have asked my fa ther. Ho believes sho was, but is not certain." "Father" was Mr. Traill; Brand re mained "dad." Thus did Enid eolvo tho difilculty. "Is sho aware that Constanco knows bug Is her mother?" ' "We think so. Indeed wo are sure. She has been so ill and is yet so frag ile that we dare uot excite her In the least degree. So Constanco has been very enreful, but every look, every syl lable, showu that her mother Is in no doubt on that point" "It's a pretty hard nut to crack," said Pyne, Ho blew cigar smoke into rings. Seemingly the operation aided reflec tion, . "Say, Enid," ho went on, "if tho weather Is flno tomorrow do you think Connie would come out for a drive?" "I don't know. Certainly Bho needs somo fresh air. What between her anxiety and her mother's Illness they aro beginning to look llko sisters." "Just mention to Connlo In her fa ther's presenco that if tho suu shines at 11 I will bo along In a dogcart Mrs. Vanslttart will be downstairs by that time." "Yes." . "And If Connie, comes out wlthme - ta I 40c 4cc 12AC 18c HMKI and Embroideries ft you Just find an errand in town. Hope Jack Into tho scheme or any old dodgo of that sort Tako caro Mr. Brand knows of It By tho way, Bend Mrs. Sheppard out too." - "What in tho world" "You'ro Just too pretty to think hnrd, Enid. It causes wrinkles. Do us I ask, there's u good girl." Enid wns delighted to find that Brand strongly supported tho sugges tion that Constance should take tho drive. Pyne, sharp on time, drew up a smart pony iu front of tho cottage and did uot twitch a muscle when Con stance, veiled aud gloved, ran down tho pathway. "Excuse mo getting down," Bald Pyne. "I dispensed wltli a groom. I guess you know tho roads round hero." She climbed to the scat beside him. "It Is very good of you to take this trouble," she Bald, and when ho looked nt her a slight color was visible through tho veil. "How Is your mother?" he asked ab ruptly. Ho felt rather than saw her start of surprise. She did not expect the relationship to be acknowledged with such sudden candor. "Sho is much better," sho assured him. "That's nil right," ho announced, as If a load wero off his mind, nnd then, Homowlint to her mystification, ho en tertained her with tho uows. Elslo und Mnmlo had quitted Pen zance tho previous evening, an aunt ' having traveled from Boston as soon , us tho first tidings of tho wreck reach ed her. "She was a young, nice looking aunt, too," ho Biiid cheerfully. "Aud I was powerful fond of thoso two kiddles." "Tho association of ideas might prove helpful," sho suggested, with it touch of her old manner. "That Is what struck Elsie," ho ad mitted. "Sho said Bho didn't know why I couldn't marry Aunt Loulsn right off, and then wo could ull Uvo togethor so ciably." "Oh! And what did the lady say?" "Sho thought It was a great Joko un til I said that unfortunately I bad made other arrangements. Then she guessed her nieces had got a bit out ot hand." 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